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Greenwich Conservatives select council by-election candidate

Posted on 24 March 2015

Community activist Thomas Turrell has been selected by Greenwich Conservatives to contest the forthcoming Greenwich West ward council by-election, being held on the same day as the General Election on 7th May.

Thomas works in financial services and has served as a local charity trustee and school governor, and as an NHS Governor. Last year he ran a successful campaign to secure extra capacity on one of Greenwich’s busiest bus routes, collecting hundreds of signatures and successful arguing for more frequent services with Transport for London.

The by-election has been caused by the decision of Labour councillor Matthew Pennycook to resign his seat in advance of the General Election, in which he is standing as the Labour candidate in the Greenwich and Woolwich constituency. His decision to resign on the presumption he will be elected as the MP, before a single vote is cast, has been severely criticised by his opponents – as has the fact his resignation comes barely 10 months after he was elected to a four-year term in the Town Hall.

Thomas plans to start his campaign straight away and fight for every vote in a by-election that gives residents the chance to vote for a new candidate after years of Labour representation in the ward.

Speaking after his selection, Thomas Turrell said:

“I care passionately about Greenwich – three generations of my family have lived and worked here – and I want to fight to protect and improve it for everyone. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to make my case in this by-election, and look forward to speaking to as many people as possible on the doorstep between now and the election.

“For too long, Labour has taken this area for granted. It’s about time we elect a councillor who will put residents first – and that’s exactly what I’ll do if I’m elected on 7th May.”

“For people living in Greenwich West, Thursday 7th May is now an even better chance to strengthen our local democracy by electing a new MP, and now, a new local councillor, who will put residents in first. That’s what I’ll do in Parliament, and that’s what we need in the Town Hall too.

“I’ve known Tom for years – he is a tenacious campaigner and will make a first class councillor. If you want someone to fight your corner in the Town Hall and get things done in the ward, Tom is your candidate.”